theleader82 wrote:kevin04 wrote:We lost 3-1 in Oslo to Norway. They were the better side, but grabbed a goal in the 76th minute to pull it back to 2-1 then pushed on and brought both Magennis and Grigg on to try and nick a point. Our first loss of the campaign. Next two games are Luxembourg and San Marino at home in September.
Poland 9
Norway 9
Northern Ireland 9
Hungary 7
Luxembourg 0
San Marino 0
Ended the year with the glamour friendlies agaisnt Tajikstan and Bhutan. Beat the Tajiks 3-1 and Bhutan 7-1 - played the second half with my defenders playing in midfield, it was 6-0 at halftime.
Played our first Champions League Qualifier against Flora Tallinn. We were 2-0 down at half-time (at home) before pulling it back in the second half to 2-2. We won 1-0 in Estonia and now face Sheriff of Moldova/Transnistria and the winners meet Celtic! So laddies will ken whats at stake and a potential glamour tie.
Back to Alba for pre-season inbetween the Europa run - lost 4-1 to Dundee; 3-0 to Portadown ; followed by Rob Roy, Montrose, Raith and Annan before the boat back across the water.
We've got a Nigerian wonderlad coming through. Plus Garry Farrell, the Northern Irish Rooney, 17 and banging gilfs (sorry goals) along with a Greek-Cypriot-Cockney called Stellios who's about to get a call up to the Cypriot team.
Hopefully another wee run in the Europa Group stages like the last two seasons. Although played 12 lost 12 doesn't look great. Tony Kane has signed an extension and turning in to a a wee maestro for us in midfield. Paul Paton, fellow Jock in the middle strolling around too. Hoping Simon, Ciaran, Garry or Jonny will get the goals for us! We need a prolific goal-scorer.
I've never really seen the appeal of football management games. Wouldn't you rather play Fifa or pro evo?
I ken what you are saying, Leado ; and especially with Steam - You have now played 48 hrs etc really does make you think about life choices, but it does kill some time at work and home.
And back on with the show.
NORTHERN IRELAND have qualified for Qatar! We somehow won the group. We won 2-0 in Warsaw (with some luck) won a penalty and one of their lads is hooked for it - score the penalty, and they're down to ten men. Sat back in the second half and then grabbed a vital second about 75 minutes and that was it.
We beat Norway 1-0 at home, although they were probably the better side going by the stats and the 'highlights' of the game. Also by beating Norway, we then gave the Poles second spot. Group ended up :
NORTHERN IRELAND 27 PTS (Played 10 - Won 9 - Lost 1)
POLAND 21 PTS
NORWAY 21 PTS
HUNGARY 12 PTS
LUXEMBOURG 4 PTS
SAN MARINO 1PT
And in the draw for Qatar - which will be held between November and December :
The Group of Mad Bastards!
Italy
Northern Ireland
D.R. Congo
Venezuela
Decided to mix the squad with experience of Cathcart, Evans, Lafferty, Carson, Norwood, Boyle, Magennis along with young talent like Farrell, Jordan Thompson, Rory Hale (NI U21s, then Eire and back to us cha ching!), Shayne Lavery, Daniel Ballard and more more names probably little know of.
Ballymena :
Finally gained a point in the EL. We've been in the group stages for three years in a row and our record sits at - Played 17 Won 0 Drawn 1 Lost 16, our most recent group was Man Utd, Genk and Vitese Arnhem - a home tie against Vitese and hopefully a win! We're toiling a bit in the league and already been binned oot of the League Cup, we're sitting 4th and 9pts off top (mostly drawning too many games). It's coming up to the festive run in and the table is something along the lines of :
Crusaders 46 pts
Glentoran 39 pts
Coleraine 38 pts
BALLYMENA 37 pts
Bellend. Rupert Bell fanclub - MEMBER.